Improvement in life-preserving mattresses



HANNAH B. MOUNTAIN. Life-Preserving Ma ttrssb No. 136,749,PatentedMarch11,1873.

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HANNAH MOUNTAIN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

'IMPROVEME NT IN LIFE-P RESERVING MATTRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,749, dated March11, 1873.

To an whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANNAH B. MOUN- TAIN, of the city and county of NewYork, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Life-Preserving Mattresses, of which the following is aspecification: A

The invention relates to mattresses for marine purposes, and to serve aslife-preservers whenthrown into the water; and my invention thereinconsists in uniting the sack receiver or support for the occupant to thebuoyant sections by central and end connections in a way tocause thesections to maintain horizontal positions upon the water while the sackis pendent therefrom by the weight of the occupant whatever theirposition may be when thrown overboard, thus making them reversible toright them by the weight within the connected sack. 1

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a view in perspectiveof a lifepreserving mattress embracing my inven tion. Fig. 2 representsa cross-section of the same.

The mattress is made of any buoyant material in two longitudinalseparate sections, A A, which, when used as a bed, as shown in Fig. 3,are closed with their edges together, so as to fit within the berth. Thelifepreserving feature consists in uniting the sections by a sack orreceiver, B, for the person or persons in a manner to allow the sectionsto be separated a sufficient distance to enable the person or persons tostand, kneel, or sit within the sack between the sections. The sack, inthis way, forms a chamber, 0, in the middle of the mattress, having itsend'D closed even with the top of the bed to form guards, and preventthe occupants being thrown out at the ends. Its connection with the bedsections is made by securing its longitudinal edges to the bottom in themiddle lengthwise thereof at E, and at the ends at F, so as to form akind of pivotal connection for each section, and to maintain the latterin horizontal positions upon the water, while the sack is pendent fromthe under sides thereof, as the sack, by reason of the weight of theoccupant, must pull directly from the center of the length of eachsection; and hence the latter must remain level, and thus afford greatersafety to the occupants.

This method of connectionalso renders each section reversible withrespect to the sack, so that, when thrown into the water, it matters notif it should be bottomside uppermost, the sack will always be inposition to receive the person, whose weight will at once sink the sack,and turn the sections upon their center connections. No care, therefore,need be 'taken in launching it in time of danger, and the person mayjump upon it and find safety between the vertical walls of the sectionssupporting the body laterally, while the hands are entirely free tograsp stay-cords Gr secured along the edges of the sections.

I prefer to make the sections of cork shavings; but they may be of anycharacter that will cause them to serve the purpose of a floatingsupport so long as the safety-sack receiver is used in connectiontherewith.

The sack may be of any suitable depth, with the bottom straight; and itsends may be of less depth forchildren, or to form a seat.

As abed the sections may be reversed so as to bring its opposite edgesto the center for equal wear.

If desired, each section may be covered with a soft bed of suitablematerial, so that its edges will project over those of the mattress, andthus form a close-covered joint when the sections are brought together,and avoid the inconvenience of the center seam.

This soft covering is basted on, and can be removed for renovating, andagain secured when desired.

By this sectional mattress and the connected sack the occupant can liedown upon the sections, holding on to the stay-cords; while in roughseas the sack oflers security between the floating walls of theconnected parts. I

It is obvious that the mattress may be provided with pockets in anysuitable way to hold provisions and water when used as apre server. a

The mattress has a cord, H, attached to one end by which to hold it whenthrown 0ver= board, and to be towed, it necessary It can the occupant,and be reversible with the sack be made of anysize and shape which maybe pendent therefrom, as described. 1 .7 deemed best, and of anymaterial, whether wa- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set (er-proofor not. my hand.

Having described my invention, I claim HANNAH B. MOUNTAIN. The sack orreceiving attachment B, united to the sections centrally, substantiallyas de- Witnesses: scribed, whereby the sections willassume and A. E. H;JOHNSON, maintain horizontal positions by the weight of t J W, HAMILTONJOHNSON.

